ADJUSTABLE FRAME FOR BED COVER SUPPORT AND OTHER USES AND ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM FOR FRAMES
A lightweight, collapsible, portable, adjustable tubing structure is used upon any conventional bed to lift and support the bed covers above the desired portions of the anatomy of an occupant of the bed. The device may feature multiple adjustments, for example, vertical (height) adjustment and horizontal (width) adjustment. Preferably, all the adjustments are continuous, non-incremental adjustments to best fit the device to a given bed. The device may be made of simple and extremely durable off-the-shelf pieces, preferably of PVC pipe, bushings, tees, and elbows, plus adjustment system that comprise threaded mobs holding a nut and bolt pressure lock system. Other adjustment system may be used, such as pins, clips, fasteners, or other locks or connectors, but the adjustment knob system is most preferred because of its ease, safety, and simplicity. The tubing structure may be used for other purposes wherein a tarp, sheet, or panel is to be supported above an interior space that can house a person(s), plant(s), and/or other objects.
This application claims priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/941,280, filed May 31, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable frame device that includes an invented effective and easy-to-use adjustment mechanism. The adjustable frame device may be used in conjunction with a conventional bed or in other settings, especially those in which a sheet, tarp, or other cover is to be held off of an underlying surface to create an interior space for a person, plants, or other equipment to occupy.
In bed cover support applications, the frame device may be supported by the box spring and mattress of the bed and is utilized to hold the bed covers above and away from a portion of the anatomy of the occupant of the bed. Use of the invented device will be recognized as extremely practical by those persons engaged in hospital or nursing home work, wherein it is at times desirable to elevate bed covers above the occupant of a bed, and especially above the feet or legs of the occupant of the bed to allow more freedom of movement and to encourage good skin health. The preferred embodiments are made entirely or substantially from off-the-shelf parts and are is adjustable in multiple directions, for convenient and versatile use as a support of bed covers or for other sheets or panels in a variety of environments.
The preferred embodiment is adapted to be disassembled in multiple ways to form multiple configurations for various purposes. For example, one disassembly method results in a compact configuration for longer-term storage, and another results in a lowered configuration for temporary storage from which it is easy to again set up the frame device for use.
2. Related Art
Many bed cover supports have been disclosed in the patent literature, including the following: U.S. Pat. No. 2,244,310 (Murphy); U.S. Pat. No. 2,291,203 (Bent); U.S. Pat. No. 3,317,932 (Gibbons, Sr.); U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,614 (Reinhard); U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,622 (Lane); U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,658 (Fontenot, et. al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,403 B1 (Elliott); U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,159 B1 (Choate); and U.S. Patent Publication #US2005/0273931 A1 (Edwards).
Still, even in view of the many bed cover supports that have been designed, there is a need for a bed cover support device that is simple, durable, and easily adjustable and usable by a wide variety of people, businesses, and medical or care facilities. The inventor believes that there is a need for such a bed cover support device that may be made entirely or substantially of sturdy and safe off-the-shelf parts that are commercially available, so that the device may be made and repaired economically. There is still a need for an adjustable frame device that is easy to transform into a compact configuration and/or a lowered configuration for long-term or temporary storage. There is still a need for an adjustment mechanism, which may be used in such a frame device or in other frame devices, that is safe, easy, and quick to use, and that may be made from off-the-shelf parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a first set of embodiments, the invention comprises an adjustable frame device that is adapted to lift bed covers, a tarp, or other sheet or panel structure above an underlying surface, to create an interior space underneath said sheet or panel structure for receiving a person, a part of a person, plants, equipment, or other items that are to be warmed, protected, shielded, or otherwise covered by said sheet or panel structure. In alternative embodiments, the invention is an adjustment mechanism that allows adjustment of the frame in any direction along the length of an elongated frame portion or portions, wherein said elongated frame portion(s) each comprises two tubes that are coaxial and slidable relative to each other unless locked in place relative to each other by said adjustment system.
In preferred embodiments, the invented frame device is adapted to elevate and support portions of bed covers above the top surface of the bed mattress so that they may be raised above the occupant of the bed to minimize contact and/or pressure from said covers on regions of the occupant's body. The preferred frame device comprises two foot portions, which are inserted below a mattress, two leg portions that extend upward from the foot portions on each side of the mattress, and an upper support portion that extends transversely preferably all the way across the bed and upon which the covers are placed. Each leg portion may be formed of two telescoping leg members that are adjustably fixed together by the invented adjustment mechanism. There is no requirement for direct attachment of the frame device to the bed frame or to the box spring or mattress, but, instead, the feet of the device are temporarily trapped in-between the box spring and the mattress by means of being slid a significant distance in-between said box spring and mattress. There is no need for any fasteners from the feet to the box spring or to the mattress, and no need for connectors between the feet, especially no connectors that extend between the feet underneath the mattress.
Preferably, there is an adjustment in the transverse width of the frame device by means of telescoping or other adjustment of the upper support portion to be wider so that, preferably, it has the same width as the bed mattress. Preferably, there are adjustments in the overall height of the device by means of telescoping or other adjustment of the length (height) of the two leg portions. The device is portable, lightweight, and adjustable to fit various sizes of beds and occupants and to adjust for various preferences of the occupant and/or caregiver. The device may be easily assembled and placed into position upon a bed by a single individual without assistance. The device also may be easily disassembled by a single individual, without assistance, to configurations that include: a substantially or entirely disassembled configuration for cleaning and/or sanitizing of the individual parts; a partially disassembled configuration for temporary storage, such as a lowered configuration; and a partially disassembled configuration for transport and longer-term storage, such as a collapsed/folded configuration. The device may be made from plastic tubing and fittings that may be easily disassembled, cleaned and sanitized, and then reassembled, without damage to the materials.
The preferred device may be constructed from parts that are readily available “off the shelf” items and that are sturdy and very unlikely to be damaged or bent, and very unlikely to become difficult to adjust even after many uses and/or many adjustments. Preferred embodiments may comprise both vertical and horizontal adjustment systems wherein the device may be adapted to any size and shape of bed and/or support virtually any size and shape of sheet or panel.
The preferred device may be used in cooperation with equipment other than a bed or with sheets or panels other than bed covers. For example, embodiments may be used as a support for a tent, a hunting shelter, camouflage cover, mosquito netting, or other covers or shades.
Referring to the Figures, there are shown several, but not the only, embodiments of the invented frame device, which may be used to elevate and support bed covers (such as sheets, blankets, quilts, comforters, and/or coverlets) or tarps, nets, or other sheets or panels. The term “sheets or panels” is a broad term that includes flexible, semi-rigid, and rigid materials; hereafter and in the claims, the single word “cover” is used to include said sheets and panels including flexible, semi-rigid, and rigid materials.
The preferred frame device supports said bed covers above the desired portion of the anatomy of an occupant of the bed, or which may be used to support other panels, sheets, tents, netting, or other objects to create an interior space for receiving a part of a person, a person, plants, equipment or other objects.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Bed cover frame device 10 is generally comprised of two lower pedestals (or “feet”) 12, two leg portions made of vertical stanchions 16 (or lower leg member) and posts 40 (upper leg portions), and upper support structure 34. Each of the pedestals 12 is generally comprised of a rectangular horizontal tubing structure 14. Horizontal tubing structure 14 is comprised of three tubes 18 of preferably equal length and two tubes 20 of equal length (but shorter than the length of tubes 18). The five aforementioned tubes are rigidly, adhesively affixed to one another using four elbows 22, for forming a square foot. In each pedestal structure 12, the tee 24 is mounted snugly upon tubes 20 as shown but is free to rotate upon tubes 20 to allow the pedestal 12 plus leg/leg members to be made as compact as possible when not in use. (See
Upper support structure 34 is generally comprised of right and left tubing structures 36 and 38, which are examples of right and left U-shaped frames. Right and left tubing structures 36, 38 slideably or otherwise adjustably connect to each other to form a rectangular platform that is distanced from the upper surface of the mattress by the foot and leg portions of the device. These right and left tubing structures are adjustable horizontally in relation to one another, for increasing or decreasing the overall width of the device (the longest dimension of the upper structure 34 being called the “width” of the device because it is typically placed parallel to the width of the bed). The upper support structure 34 is generally flat and on a plane across which the bed covers are placed, so that the plane of the upper support structure 34 is parallel but distanced from the upper surface of the bed mattress. At each end of the upper support structure 34 is provided a vertical post 40, which become the upper leg members of the leg portions.
Tubing structure 36 is comprised of two ¾ inch tubes 42 and two ¾ inch tubes 20 rigidly, adhesively affixed to one another using elbows 22. Tee 24 is mounted and fixed to tubes 20, and post 40 (½ inch diameter) may be rigidly fixed within tee 24 utilizing bushing 44. Alternatively, the post 40 with its bushing 44 may be slideably removable from the tee 24, or the post 40 may be removable from bushing 44. Having the upper end of post 40 (with its bushing 44 or other upper end structure) be removable from the tee 24 (for example, see
Tubing structure 38 (the tubing structure toward the left in
Referring now to
Note that, in
Because of the firm and sure abutment of the abutment surface against the tube, the system 50 holds the device firmed in each adjusted position, and may be considered a “lock” or “latch.” To change the width or length adjustment of the device, knob(s) 52 is/are loosened slightly, whereupon the bolt (and/or nut, as discussed above) move slightly away from tubes 40 or 46, freeing tubes 40/46 to be moved within tees 32 to a different position. When the desired position is attained, knob(s) 52 is/are tightened so that the bolt (or nut) end(s) again abut against tubes 40 or 46 to lock the tubes 40/46 in the newly-adjusted position. Adjustment system 50 allows continuous, rather than incremental, adjustment of the length of a frame piece that is made of two coaxial tubes that are slidable relative to each other along the co-axis.
Referring now to
Further, as portrayed in
The methods of disassembling the frame device 10 shown in
Referring now to
The terminology of “horizontal” and “vertical” are not meant to necessarily be limiting, but are merely used for convenience to clarify preferred relationships of the parts of the device and preferred relationships of the device to the bed. Other orientations of the device to the bed or to other objects it holds may be included in the invention.
It may be noted that the tee, locking bolt, nut, and knob (herein also referred to as “the tee and lock,” for simplicity) of the adjustment system 50 is shown on particular ones of the U-shaped frames of the upper support structures (on the right U-shaped frame in
Alternative embodiments of the invention comprise the invented adjustment system 50 in other frame devices and/or on other elongated tubes. For example, one or more adjustment systems 50 may be used to slideably connect and lock many embodiments of coaxial tubes that are parts of simple or complex frame devices. Multiple adjustment systems 50 may be placed, as in the preferred embodiments, on both sides of a rectangular or otherwise-shaped frame to allow ends of the frame to be widened or lengthened. Or, individual tubes may be adjusted in length using the system 50. While the terms “tube” and “tubes” is used herein and in the claims, it may be noted that it is the outer member of the coaxial, slidable, adjustable connection that should be hollow to allow slidable insertion of the inner member. The inner member, while also described as a tube, may alternatively be solid. A solid inner member, however, may perhaps unnecessarily add to the weight of the frame, and so the inner member may also be described as a cylindrical inner member or an elongated inner member. Further, both outer and inner members may be other than cylindrical, for example, a square (in transverse cross-section) outer tube and a square (in transverse cross-section) inner member. In such embodiments, the abutment member distal surface of the adjustment system preferably abuts against a flat side of the inner member.
Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the broad scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A frame device for supporting at least one cover above an interior space, the frame device comprising:
- an upper support structure comprising right and left U-shaped frames slideably and adjustably connected together by at least two frame adjustment systems;
- right and left leg portions extending downward from said right and left U-shaped frames; and
- a right foot and a left foot connected to said right and left leg portions, respectively;
- wherein said right and left leg portions each comprise upper and lower leg members slideably and adjustably connected together by at least two leg adjustment systems;
- wherein each of the feet is an open, rectangle frame;
- wherein said two leg adjustment systems each comprise a three-opening tee fixed to one of the lower leg member and upper leg member at a first opening of the tee, wherein the other of the lower leg member and upper leg member slides through a second opening of said tee and into said one of the lower leg member and said upper leg member;
- wherein each of said leg adjustment systems further comprises a bolt extending through a knob handle and into a third opening of the tee and abutting at its distal end against said other of the lower leg member and upper leg member, a nut threaded onto the distal end of the bolt to retain the bolt in the knob handle, and wherein the knob is threadably connected to the tee at said third opening; and
- wherein the distal end of the bolt is generally flat.
2. A frame device as in claim 1, wherein said at least two frame adjustment systems each comprise a tee having a first opening fixed to one of the right and left U-shaped frames, and the other of the right and left U-shaped frames slides into a second opening of said tee and into said one of the right and left U-shaped frames; and
- wherein each of said at least two frame adjustment systems further comprises a bolt extending through a knob handle and into a third opening of the tee and abutting at its distal end against said other of the right and left U-shaped frames, a nut threaded onto the distal end of the bolt to retain the bolt in the knob handle, wherein the distal end of the bolt is generally flat.
3. A frame device as in claim 1, wherein each foot is square.
4. A frame device as in claim 1, wherein each of said upper leg members is slideably detachable from its respective right and left U-shaped frame.
5. A frame device as in claim 1, wherein each of said lower leg members is slideably detachable from its respective foot.
6. A frame device as in claim 1, wherein each of said lower leg members is pivotal relative to its respective foot to move to be generally co-planar with its respective foot.
7. A frame device as in claim 1, in combination with a bed having a mattress and a box spring, each of the feet being located between said mattress and said box spring near opposite sides of the bed, wherein said leg portions extend up beside opposite sides of the bed and wherein said upper support structure extends across the bed a distance from the top of the mattress.
8. A frame device as in claim 4, in combination with a bed having a mattress and a box spring, each of the feet being located between said mattress and said box spring near opposite sides of the bed, wherein said leg portions extend up beside opposite sides of the bed and wherein said upper support structure extends across the bed a distance from the top of the mattress.
9. A frame device as in claim 5, in combination with abed having a mattress and a box spring, each of the feet being located between said mattress and said box spring near opposite sides of the bed, wherein said leg portions extend up beside opposite sides of the bed and wherein said upper support structure extends across the bed a distance from the top of the mattress.
10. A system for supporting at least one bed cover above a bed, the system comprising:
- a bed with a box spring and a mattress; and
- a frame device comprising:
- an upper support structure comprising right and left frames slideably and adjustably connected together by at least two frame adjustment systems;
- right and left leg portions extending downward from said right and left frames; and
- a right and a left foot connected to said right and left leg portions, respectively;
- wherein said right and left leg portions comprise upper and lower leg members slideably and adjustably connected together by at least two leg adjustment systems;
- wherein said right foot and said left foot are placed between the mattress and the box spring on opposite sides of the bed, and wherein, when the frame device is in a first, in-use position, said leg portions extend up beside opposite sides of the bed and said upper support structure extends across the bed a distance from the top of the mattress for holding a bed cover; and
- wherein said lower leg members are slideably detachable from the right and left feet, so that, when the frame device is in a second, storage position, the lower leg members are detached from the feet and the upper support structure combined with said leg portions is lowered until the upper support structure rests on the bed with said leg portions extending down along opposite sides of the bed.
11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said at least two frame adjustment systems each comprise a three-opening tee fixed at a first opening to one of said right and left frames, and the other of the right and left frames sliding through a second opening and into said one of the right and left frames;
- wherein each of said at least two frame adjustment systems further comprises a threaded bolt extending through a knob handle and into a third opening of the tee and abutting at its distal end against said other of the right and left frames, and a nut threaded onto the distal end of the bolt to retain the bolt in the knob handle, wherein the distal end of the bolt is generally flat, and the adjustment system is adapted so that turning the knob in a first direction tightens the distal end against said other of the right and left frames.
12. A system of claim 10, wherein said two leg adjustment systems each comprise a three-opening tee fixed at a first opening to one of said lower leg member and upper leg member, and the other of said lower leg member and upper leg member sliding through a second opening of the tee and into said one of the lower leg member and upper leg member;
- wherein each of said leg adjustment systems further comprises a bolt extending through a knob handle and into a third opening of the tee and abutting at its distal end against said other of said lower leg member and upper leg member, a nut threaded onto the distal end of the bolt to retain the bolt in the knob handle, wherein the distal end of the bolt is generally flat, and the adjustment system is adapted so that turning the knob in a first direction tightens the distal end against said other of the lower leg member and upper leg member.
13. A system as in claim 10, wherein said upper support structure is a rectangular frame that, when the frame device is in the first, in-use position and in the second, storage position, is parallel to the plane of the top of the mattress.
14. An adjustment system for slideably connecting an outer tube and an inner member coaxial with said outer tube, the system comprising:
- an outer tube having an end, a three-opening tee fixedly attached to said end of the outer tube at a first of said openings;
- an elongated, inner member slideably inserted into a second of said three tee openings and slideably extending into said outer tube and coaxial with said outer tube;
- a threaded bolt extending through a handle knob and into a third opening of said three openings that is perpendicular to said first and second openings, wherein the handle knob is threadably connected to said third opening; and
- a nut threaded onto the distal end of the bolt and retaining the bolt in the knob handle;
- wherein, upon tightening the handle knob by rotating the handle knob, a distal end of said bolt abuts against said inner member to lock said inner member in any of many slidable locations inside the outer tube; and
- wherein the distal end of the bolt is generally flat so that said distal end abuts into but does not gouge into said inner member.
15. An adjustment system as in claim 14, wherein all of said outer tube, said inner member, and said handle knob are PVC pipes and fittings.
16. An adjustment system as in claim 14, wherein said adjustment system provides continuous adjustment of the inner member relative to the outer tube.
17. An adjustment system as in claim 14, wherein an exterior surface of the handle knob is knurled.
18. An adjustment system as in claim 14, wherein said outer tube is cylindrical and said inner member is cylindrical.
19. An adjustment system as in claim 14, wherein said inner member is a hollow tube.
20. An adjustment system as in claim 14, wherein said nut has a distal end that is near said bolt distal end and also abuts into said inner member when the handle knob is tightened.
Type: Application
Filed: May 19, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 4, 2008
Inventor: DUKE V. ROGERS (MERIDIAN, ID)
Application Number: 12/122,909
International Classification: A47C 21/02 (20060101); F16H 35/00 (20060101);